Fire departments are structured differently around the world. Many firefighters are sworn members with command structures similar to the military and police. They do not have general police powers but have specific powers of enforcement and control in fire and emergency situations.
Ranks are divided between company officers and fire department officers, which can be subdivided between active officers (field officers) and administrative officers. The active officers are the captain, and three or four lieutenants, these four active officers are distinguished by red lines on their helmets.
Directeur Général de la sécurité civile et de la gestion des crises
Directeur des sapeurs-pompiers (directeur adjoint du DGSCGC)
Contrôleur général (officiers investis de responsabilités particulières envers l'État)
Contrôleur général
Colonel hors-classe Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commandant
Capitaine
Lieutenant hors classe Lieutenant de 1re classe Lieutenant de 2e classe
Civilian professional firefighters class C
Adjudant-Chef
Adjudant
Sergent-Chef
Sergent
Caporal-Chef
Caporal
Sapeur de 1re classe
Sapeur de 2e classe
Germany
In Germany every federal state has its own civil protection laws thus they have different rank systems. Additionally, in the volunteer fire departments, there is a difference between a rank and an official position. This is founded on the military traditions of the fire departments. Every firefighter can hold a high rank without having an official position. A firefighter can be promoted by years of service, training skills and qualifications. Official positions are partly elected or given by capabilities. These conditions allow that older ordinary firefighters have higher ranks than their leaders. But through this ranks are no authorities given (Brevet).
Professional fire fighters (middle technical grades) of Rheinland-Pfalz
Completed vocational training in a technical occupation suitable for the fire service. Basic firefighter training.
Brandmeister/-in während der Laufbahnausbildung
Brandmeister
Oberbrandmeister
Hauptbrandmeister
Professional fire fighters (upper technical grades) of Rheinland-Pfalz
Bachelor of engineering and two years departmental training
Brandinspektorenanwärter
Brandinspektor
Brandoberinspektor
Brandamtmann
Brandamtsrat
Brandoberamtsrat
Professional fire fighters (higher technical grades) of Rheinland-Pfalz
Master of engineering and two years of departmental training
Brandreferendar
Brandrat
Oberbrandrat
Branddirektor
Leitender Branddirektor Ministerialrat
Leitender Ministerialrat
Landesfeuerwehrinspekteur
Helmet insignia of Rheinland-Pfalz
Company leaders
Upper technical grades, battalion chiefs
Higher technical grades, fire chiefs
Germany 1935-1945
The Feuerschutzpolizei was formed in 1938 as a branch of the Ordnungspolizei, formed in 1938 when the German municipal professional fire brigades were transferred to the national police. The previously red fire vehicles, blue uniforms and fire service ranks were replaced by green fire vehicles, green uniforms and police ranks.
Professional fire departments in Prussia 1935–1938
In the Indian fire services, the ranks and hierarchy may vary slightly across different states and organizations. The specific rank names and their corresponding responsibilities may vary across different states and organizations in India. The following ranks are commonly found in indian fire departments. [3]
Director general, fire and rescue services (head of the department) (IPS cadre officer in the rank of DGP)
Director/additional director
Regional fire officer/ divisional officer/joint director
District fire officer
Station officer, (in-charge of fire stations)
Assistant station officer
Senior fire and rescue officer/senior fireman/leading fireman
Fire and rescue officer/fireman/ fireman (driver), (this is the entry-level position in the fire service.)
Indonesia
Firefighters in Indonesia form part of the civil service of local governments and wear variant forms of uniforms worn by civil servants and employees.
Rank category
Rank category number
Rank in Indonesian
Equivalent rank (with US general schedule and UK civil service paygrade)
Rank in English (Provincial/city/municipal/regency/district fire service personnel only)
Directors and commissioners
IV/e
Pembina Utama
Director general senior executive service level V, pay band 3 A7
Director
IV/d
Pembina Utama Madya
Director senior executive service level V pay band 2 A7
Chief commissioner
IV/c
Pembina Utama Muda
Deputy director GS-15, pay band 2 A6
Commander
Subaltern and field ranked officers
IV/b
Pembina Tingkat I
Assistant director GS-14, grade 6 A5
Senior commissioner
IV/a
Pembina
Senior executive officer 1st class GS-14, grade 7 A4
Commissioner
III/d
Penata Tingkat I
Senior executive officer 2nd class GS-13, grade 7 A3
Battalion chief
III/c
Penata
Higher executive officer 1st class GS-12, grade 7 A2
Captain
Lieutenants
III/b
Penata Muda Tingkat I
Higher executive officer GS-11, A2
First lieutenant
III/a
Penata Muda
Executive officer 1st class GS-10, A2/B6
Second lieutenant
Senior NCOs
II/d
Pengatur Tingkat I
Executive officer 2nd class GS-9, A1/B6
Station sub-officer
II/c
Pengatur
Executive officer GS-8, A1/B5
Brigadier major
Junior NCOs
II/b
Pengatur Muda Tingkat I
Administrative officer class 1 GS-7, B4
Brigadier 1st class
II/a
Pengatur Muda
Administrative officer class 2 GS-6, B4
Senior brigader
Basic level
I/d
Juru Tingkat I
Higher clerical officer 1st class GS-5, B3
Brigadier
I/c
Juru
Higher clerical officer GS-4/GS-3, B3
Junior brigadier
I/b
Juru Muda Tingkat I
Clerical officer GS-2, B2
Senior firefighter
I/a
Juru Muda
Administrative assistant GS-1, B1
Firefighter
Iran
Iranian insignia
In Iran, every city has its own fire department, but ranks are the same in the whole country, and are as follows:
Rank
Persian
Collar/epaulette markings
Collar/epaulette markings (in Persian)
Volunteer firefighter III
آتش نشان داوطلب سوم
One golden bar
یک خط طلایی
Volunteer firefighter II
آتش نشان داوطلب دوم
Two golden bars
دو خط طلایی
Volunteer firefighter
آتش نشان داوطلب
Three golden bars
سه خط طلایی
Firefighter III
آتش نشان سوم
One silver bar
یک خط نقره ای
Firefighter II
آتش نشان دوم
Two silver bars
دو خط نقره ای
Firefighter
آتش نشان
Three silver bars
سه خط نقره ای
Head firefighter III
سرآتش نشان سوم
One flame with a thin silver bar below it and one golden bar
یک شعله با زیر پایه ی نقره ای نازک و یک خط طلایی
Head firefighter II
سرآتش نشان دوم
One flame with a thin silver bar below it and two golden bars
یک شعله با زیر پایه ی نقره ای نازک و دو خط طلایی
Head firefighter
سرآتش نشان
One flame with a thin silver bar below it and three golden bars
یک شعله با زیر پایه ی نقره ای نازک و سه خط طلایی
Master firefighter III
آتش یار سوم
One flame with golden border and silver bar below flame
یک شعله با حاشیه ی طلایی و زیر پایه ی نقره ای حجیم زیر شعله
Master firefighter II
آتش یار دوم
Two flames with golden border and silver bar below each flame
دو شعله با حاشیه ی طلایی و زیر پایه ی نقره ای حجیم زیر هر شعله
Master firefighter
آتش یار
Three flames with golden border and silver bar below each flame
سه شعله با حاشیه ی طلایی و زیر پایه ی نقره ای حجیم زیر هر شعله
Head master firefighter
سر آتش یار
Four flames with golden border and silver bar below each flame
چهار شعله با حاشیه ی طلایی و زیر پایه ی نقره ای حجیم زیر هر شعله
Chief firefighter III
آتش پاد سوم
One empty golden wreath
یک حلقه گل طلایی خالی
Chief firefighter II
آتش پاد دوم
One golden wreath with a flame inside it
یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش
Chief firefighter
آتش پاد
One golden wreath with a flame inside it and a silver bar below them
یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش و یک خط نقره ای زیر آنها
Chief master firefighter III
فرآتش پاد سوم
One golden wreath with a flame inside it and two silver bars below them
یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش و دو خط نقره ای زیر آنها
Chief master firefighter II
فرآتش پاد دوم
One golden wreath with a flame inside it and three silver bars below them
یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش و سه خط نقره ای زیر آنها
Chief master firefighter
فرآتش پاد
One golden wreath with a flame inside it and four silver bars below them
یک حلقه گل طلایی با یک شعله درونش و چهار خط نقره ای زیر آنها
Ireland
In Ireland, the traditional British and Commonwealth brigade rank structure is used, across the 26 counties.
Fire and rescue services are provided by 26 County Councils to the 26 counties of Ireland, and by three city councils with unitary authority status (those of Dublin, Cork, and Galway) within their respective cities. By agreement, the Dublin Fire Brigade provides cover to both the city and the county. Similarly, Galway City Council and Galway County Council have an agreement for the provision of a single fire and rescue service. Only Cork has separate services - Cork City Fire Brigade in the City of Cork, and Cork County Fire Service in the wider County of Cork. In each of the other 23 counties of Ireland a single fire and rescue service covers the whole county, including all large towns and cities, as those 23 county councils are unitary authorities for the entire county jurisdiction.
The Japanese fire department's rank insignias are place on a small badge and pinned above the right pocket. Rank is told by stripes and hexagram stars. The design of the insignias came from older Japanese style military insignias. Officers and team leaders could wear an arm band on the arm of fire jacket to show status as command leader. Sometimes rank can be shown as different a color fire jacket for command staff. The color whites and gray are reserved for EMS. Orange is reserved for rescuers.
In New Zealand, rank is shown on epaulettes on firefighters' station uniform, and through colors and stripes on firefighter helmets. As the nation only has a single fire department, the New Zealand Fire Service, ranks are consistent through the country.
A Russian firefighter with a head of duty shift fire station helmet.
In the Russian Federation, the decals are applied symmetrically on both sides of the helmet (front and rear). The location of the decals on the special clothing and SCBA is established for each fire department of the same type within the administrative entity. The following ranks are used by State Fire Service civilian personnel worn on all forms of dress, while military personnel use ranks similar to those of the Police of Russia, due to their pre-2001 history as the fire service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation before all firefighting services were transferred to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Federal Fire Service of EMERCOM helmet insignia
Rank
Helmet colour/markings
Firefighter
The all color helmet with the applied number, indicating the fire station
Head of fire brigade
The all color helmet with the applied number, indicating the fire station, underlined by line 50mm wide and 5mm thick
Head of duty shift fire station
The all color helmet with the applied a circle, inside which the applied number is indicating the fire station
Deputy head of the fire station
The all color helmet with the applied a triangle, inside which the applied number is indicating the fire station
Head of the fire station
The all color helmet with the applied a square, inside which the applied number is indicating the fire station
Commanding staff of the fire department
The all color helmet with the applied a circle, inside which the applied a rhombus
An American firefighter with a lieutenant's helmetTypical rank insignia for an American fire department
In the United States, helmet colors often denote a fire fighter's rank or position. In general, white helmets denote chief officers, such as battalion chiefs, division chiefs, etc. while red helmets may denote company officers, such as captains, lieutenants, etc. but the specific meaning of a helmet's color or style varies from region to region and department to department. The rank of an officer in an American fire department is most commonly denoted by a number of speaking trumpets, a reference to a megaphone-like device used in the early days of the fire service, although typically called "bugle" in today's parlance. Ranks proceed from one (lieutenant) to five (fire chief) bugles. Traditional ranks in American fire departments that exist but may not always be utilized in all cities or towns include:
In many fire departments in the U.S., the captain is commonly the commander of a company and a lieutenant is the supervisor of the company's firefighters on shift. There is no state or federal rank structure for firefighters and each municipality or volunteer fire department creates and uses their own unique structure.
Some other American fire departments such as the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) use military rank insignia in addition to or instead of the traditional bugles. Additionally, officers on truck companies have been known to use rank insignias shaped like axes for lieutenants (one) and captains (two).
Sergeant (Sgt) is a rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, serjeant, is used in The Rifles and other units that draw their heritage from the British light infantry. Its origin is the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the Old French term serjant.
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
The chart below shows the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army, with seniority, and pay grade, increasing from right to left. The enlisted ranks of corporal (E-4) and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The rank of specialist is also in pay grade E-4, but does not hold non-commissioned officer status; it is common that a soldier may never hold the rank of corporal, and instead be promoted from specialist to sergeant, attaining junior NCO status at that time.
Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it.
The fire service in France is organised into local fire services which mostly cover the Departments of France, with a few exceptions. There are two types of fire service:
The South African National Defence Force's rank system is largely based on the British system, with the Air Force sharing the Army rank titles.
The ranks in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reflect an individual's level in the military.
Station officer is a supervisory rank in a number of Commonwealth and other fire services, including those in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the New Zealand Fire Service.
For centuries, firefighters have worn helmets to protect them from heat, cinders and falling objects. Although the shape of most fire helmets has changed little over the years, their composition has evolved from traditional leather to metals, to composite helmets constructed of lightweight polymers and other plastics.
Chief fire officer (CFO), formerly often just chief officer or county fire officer, is the highest rank in the fire and rescue services of the United Kingdom. There are currently 50 chief fire officers serving in the United Kingdom in charge of the local authority fire services. There is also a chief fire officer responsible for the Ministry of Defence Fire Services, which includes the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and the RAF Fire Service. Some UK airport fire services also designate their seniors officers as CFOs, though these officers rarely wear the same rank insignia as a local authority chief fire officer.
Sub-officer, or the equivalent in other languages, is a term used in many armed forces used to indicate ranks below commissioned officers. Sub-officer is equivalent to the term warrant officer in the British Commonwealth and the United States. Historically armed forces using the term sub-officer have used it to refer to more senior non-commissioned ranks, typically from sergeant upwards, but the term often covers all ranks that other forces designate non-commissioned. In navies the term is comparable to petty officer.
Leading firefighter is a rank in the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service, London Fire Brigade and the Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service. It used to be in all British fire services, ranking between firefighter and sub-officer. A leading firefighter was usually in charge of a single fire appliance. The badge of rank was one white or silver bar on the epaulettes. The helmet was yellow with one 12.5 mm (0.49 in) black stripe on it.
The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) provides fire services for the city of Calgary, Alberta.
Captain is a rank in various fire services.
Firefighting in the United States dates back to the earliest European colonies in the Americas. Early firefighters were simply community members who would respond to neighborhood fires with buckets. The first dedicated volunteer fire brigade was established in 1736 in Philadelphia. These volunteer companies were often paid by insurance companies in return for protecting their clients.
The United States police-rank model is generally quasi-military in structure. A uniform system of insignia based on that of the US Army and Marine Corps is used to help identify an officer's seniority.
The United States Army's enlisted rank insignia that was used during World War I differs from the current system. The color scheme used for the insignia's chevron was olive drab for field use uniforms or one of several colors depending on the corps on dress uniforms. The chevron system used by enlisted men during World War I came into being on July 17, 1902, and was changed to a different system in 1919. Specification 760, which was dated May 31, 1905, contained 45 different enlisted insignia that varied designs and titles by different corps of the Army. General Order Number 169, which was enacted on August 14, 1907, created an even larger variety of enlisted rank insignia. Pay grades similar to the current system were not yet in use by the U.S. Army, and instead, the pay system reflected the job assignment of the soldier rather than their rank. By the end of World War I, the system contained 128 different insignia designs.
The police in Canada's ranks differ according to the different police forces and depend on different laws at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
References
↑ "Manuel belge de régulation pompier"[Belgian manual for fire regulation](PDF). Directorate-General Civil Security (in French) (2.1ed.). May 2020. p.113. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
↑ "Distinktionsoversigt"[Distinction summary]. Danske Beredskaber (in Danish). Retrieved 6 November 2019.
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